News Releases

(Salina, KS 01-17) As part of four community events to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his legacy, the Salina Arts & Humanities Arts Infusion program presents visiting artist Lemuel Sheppard at Lakewood Middle School, on Friday, January 13. Sheppard will perform his signature style of African-American traditional folk and blues music, and speak about the historic civil rights movement for all 7th and 8th grade social studies classes.

Sheppard began playing guitar at age nine in Kansas City's rich jazz and blues atmosphere. A self-taught guitarist, his natural ability developed rapidly. Sheppard is not only an interpreter of African-American folk music, but composes much of his own work and is an accomplished lecturer on topics including the Harlem Renaissance and the civil rights movement. He is a recognized Kennedy Center teaching artist and performer.

As part of MLKJr. Week, there is a community potluck on Saturday, January 14 at 6:30 p.m. at Sunrise Presbyterian Church,825 E. Beloit Avenue. Open to the public, the event will include performances by local spoken-word artists and musicians. On Sunday, January 15, a 3:30 p.m. church service, also at Sunrise Presbyterian, features Sheppard as guest speaker and solo artist, along with the New Dawn Singers and youth spoken-word performers highlighting Dr. King’s message of peace and unity. The 2017 King Week theme is “Forward Together.” Both of the events are free of charge.

The following Friday, January 20,King Week closes out with a special edition of ONE MIC at Astra Books and Coffee House with Kansas City-based artist They Call Me Sauce, a rapper and community activist. The event starts at 7 p.m. and is free of charge, supported by Friday Night Live.

For more information, call Salina Arts & Humanities at 785-309-5770 or the Smoky Hill Museum at 785-309-5776.

For needed accommodations, please call Amanda Morris at Salina Arts & Humanities at 785-309-5770 between 8:00 a.m. - Noon and 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.Every effort will be made to accommodate known disabilities.For material or speech access, please call at least five working days prior to the event.

Salina Arts & Humanities, a department of the City of Salina, has served a unique role in arts advocacy and support since 1966.The Smoky Hill River Festival, Horizons Grants Program, Smoky Hill Museum, Arts Infusion Program in schools, Community Art & Design, Cultural Connections, and the Friday Night Live performance series are among the programs of Salina Arts & Humanities, located at 211 W. Iron Avenue in Salina.